Rafter Fragment
1781 (Date manufactured/created)
Wood
The town of Guilford was the site of several American Revolution skirmishes with British forces stationed on Long Island. The largest of these occurred on June 18, 1781, when 150 British soldiers in three ships landed at Leete’s Island (an area southwest of the Guilford Green) and began setting fire to the buildings there. The local militia -- a coast guard of 100 men -- assembled on the Green and ran to Leete's Island. Arriving about an hour after the British landed, the Guilford troops counterattacked and forced the enemy to retreat. Simeon Leete and Ebenezer Hart of Guilford were mortally wounded.
This fragment of a charred rafter came from the home of Daniel (1742-1825) and Charity Norton (1743-1824) Leete. During the raid, British soldiers attempted to burn their house by setting fire to a bunch of dried herbs hanging from a rafter. The wood was charred, but the Guilford militia put the fire out before it caused much damage to the house.
This fragment of a charred rafter came from the home of Daniel (1742-1825) and Charity Norton (1743-1824) Leete. During the raid, British soldiers attempted to burn their house by setting fire to a bunch of dried herbs hanging from a rafter. The wood was charred, but the Guilford militia put the fire out before it caused much damage to the house.
Donated by Edward Walter Leete of Guilford in 1903
HW1903.033